RECENT WEEKS have seen the Labour leadership step up the witch-hunt of the left. This has more to do with removing any potential challenge to a future government than the appeasement of the popular press.
Though the two most prominent cases have been the suspension of 13 Labour councillors in Lambeth and 29 in Liverpool, the witch-hunt has spread further with the suspension of 7 councillors in Bristol and the suspension of Brighton CLP.
In addition, alleged supporters of Socialist Organiser have been suspended in Nottingham East CLP, Sheffield and Southampton. Supporters Labour Briefing and Socialist Outlook now look like likely targets too, with threatening noises coming. from the Labour Coordinating Committee, the leading proponents of the witch-hunt.
Though some are justified by their supposed connection with a left tendency, most suspensions have occurred due to refusal to implement the Poll Tax and carry out cuts.
Local campaigns have been established in Lambeth and Brighton with support from the majority of the Labour Parties concerned.
A particular feature of the situation in Liverpool has been the standing of Real Labour' candidates against those imposed by Kinnock's bureaucracy.
However, this has not been linked to a campaign against the witchhunt, and some have expressed fears that this could lead to widespread further expulsions.
Women for Socialism On a national level, the vast majority of the 'soft left have caved in before the witch-hunt, with figures such as Phil Kelly, ex-Editor of Tribune, remaining the exception to the rule. On the Labour National Executive, Tony Benn and Dennis Skinner remain the only two prepared to defend party democracy.
However, opposition is now being organised in a more united and systematic way than ever before. Since the current attacks have hit a much wider swathe of activists than previous attacks on the left, such as the 1982 expulsion of the Militant Editorial Board, it has been possible to assemble a broader response around issues of party democracy.
A meeting called by Lambeth Against the Witch-hunt, and End the Ban (the campaign against the ban on SO) on April 27 made important. November, will be an excellent opportunity to collectivise the hidden exGCHO TRADE UHIONSTS OR BELC Argulng for democracy at GCHQ, and against It In the Labour Party! progress towards establishing a unified campaign against the witchhunt.
The meeting, attended by representatives from more than ten areas, agreed to produce a newsletter and organise resolutions and fringe meetings for Labour Party conference. The high degree of cooperation achieved at the meeting indicates that these practical steps forward will be followed by the establishment of united campaign to lift the suspensions and re-establish party democracy.